Saudi’s cashless drive boosts the fintech firm’s ME expansion plan

The Saudi Central Bank (Sama) has authorized Indian payment infrastructure firm TotalPay to operate as an e-commerce payment technical service provider, Arab News reports. The approval makes it the first Indian fintech firm to secure specific authorization to deploy payment gateway and payment orchestration architecture to merchants across the Kingdom.

What is TotalPay? Founded in 2022, the firm claims to serve more than 1.5k businesses and has processed over USD 1 bn in payment transactions. TotalPay’s orchestration tech allows high-volume enterprises to dynamically route transactions across multiple processing banks to eliminate downtime and reduce per-transaction fees.

Why it matters: The licence is a key milestone in TotalPay’s Middle East expansion strategy, with plans to invest in tech, partnerships, and payment infrastructure across Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region. The approval comes as Saudi accelerates its shift toward a cashless economy under Vision 2030.

RSA Global to develop JNPA empty container yard

RSA Global to run JNPA yard: UAE-based logistics firm RSA Global will develop and operate a 62-acre empty container yard at Nhava Sheva port under a 30-year license, Business Standard reports. Nhava Sheva — India’s largest container port near Mumbai, along the western coast — is operated by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA).

The rollout: The facility will be used for storage and yard operations for empty containers, including dry boxes, reefers, ISO tanks, out-of-gauge and project-cargo equipment, and collapsible containers. The project will be developed in three phases with the first phase of operations beginning within 20 days and reaching full capacity by May 2027.

Oman detention revives Mahadev case

Indian authorities will seek to extradite Sourabh Chandrakar, the promoter of the illegal Mahadev Online Book wagering app, after he was detained in Oman by the Royal Oman Police, PTI reports, citing officials. The detention followed an Interpol red notice sought by Indian law enforcement including the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and state police.

Case background: The ED has described Mahadev as an illegal international online wagering network that operated through multiple platforms and domain names. The ED alleges that Mahadev’s wagering business involved proceeds of crime worth INR 60 bn (USD 628 mn). In March, the agency attached assets worth INR 17 bn (USD 178 mn) — most of them in Dubai — belonged to Chandrakar and his accomplices. Chandrakar and co-founder Ravi Uppal have denied the allegations.

Why it matters: Chandrakar’s detention gives Indian authorities another chance to pursue his custody after a previous attempt in the UAE did not lead to his return. He was detained in Dubai in 2024 and later released. Officials are now seeking either extradition or deportation from Oman.